Course Number and Name --- MGMT 320 Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management
School --- School of Business
University --- University of Bridgeport
Semester/Date --- Spring 2014
Day and Time of Course –Thursday 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Name of Professor - Neil I. Jacobs
Contact Information:
Office Building and Room Number – office hours by appointment only
Telephone Numbers 914.669.5559. This is a landline – DO NOT TEXT ME.
Email: njacobs@bridgeport.edu
Mailing Address: School of Business
230 Park Avenue
University of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, NY 06604
Course Materials
Required Reading/Materials
William Bygrave and Andrew Zacharakis, Entrepreneurship, 2d Ed., Publisher : John Wiley,
ISBN No. 0-13-9780470450376. DO NOT BUY NEW THIRD EDITION!!!! BUY THE
SECOND EDITION (OFFICIAL COURSE TEXT) OR THE FIRST EDITION (ALMOST AS
GOOD AS THE SECOND EDITION) USED. LOTS OF COPIES ARE AVAILABLE USED –
BUY IT!!!
Additional materials on reserve as indicated below.
A. General Course Information
1. Course Description
The purpose of this course is to give an overview of the nature of entrepreneurship and the steps
necessary to engage in the entrepreneurial process. Identification of opportunities, team-building,
business conceptualization and strategy, marketing, launch management will all be covered.
This course covers a lot of material (well over 600 pages) and requires significant independent
thought both inside and outside the classroom. If you are not willing to do, and to express
yourself in the classroom, this course is NOT for you.
2. Intended Audience
Undergraduate business students at UB
1
3. Special Accommodations
Please see end of document for statement regarding disabilities or special needs.
B. Prerequisites Undergraduate Standing
C. Mode of Instruction
The mode of instruction is lecture/discussion with three exams and a final project as greater detailed
below.
D. Student Responsibilities
1. Academic Honesty Standards
It is the student’s responsibility to familiarize himself or herself with and adhere to the standards
set forth in the policies on cheating and plagiarism as defined in Chapters 2 and 5 of the Key to
UB http://www.bridgeport.edu/pages/2623.asp or the appropriate graduate program handbook.
2. Class Participation
Class attendance and participation is MANDATORY. Meaningful class participation will add to
your grade. If you are not willing to speak up, do not take this course.
3. Assignments.
There will be a final project, done in groups, the size of which will depend on the class size. The
final project will be a critique of two business plans that I will make available to you. All
submissions must be typed electronically, using Word or Word Perfect ONLY (no open source
apps), and both emailed to me and submitted to turnitin.com with my confirming receipt by 4:30
PM the day due.
4. Electronic Devices
The ONLY electronic devices permitted during class are electronic dictionaries and
laptops/netbooks if I permit their use. Turn off all phones or they WILL BE confiscated.
5. Integrity
Cheating is forbidden. Cheating includes, but is not limited to, submitting work that is not your
own (plagiarism) and discussing questions (in any way) during exams or use of unauthorized
materials thereat. Any cheating will result in a grade of “F” and referral to appropriate university
authorities. I have done it before, and I will do it again. Please note University policy on the
website.
E. Grading
Grade Breakdown:
3 Exams
25% each
2
Final project
25%
Grading Scale: (also see below)
90 - 100
A
80 - 89
B
70 - 79
C
60 - 69
D
Below 60
F
Schedule
Date Topics/Assignments/Cases
Chapter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Week 1 – Introduction, class requirements, grading, The Power of Entrepreneurship. Reading:
Text Ch. 1, pp.1-48
Week 2- The Entrepreneurial Process. Reading: Text Chapter 2, pp.49-82, Shane (on reserve)
Week 3 – Opportunity Recognition. Reading: Text Chapter 3, pp.83-124
Week 4 –Creating a Business Model and Business Strategy. Reading: Text Ch.4,pp. 125-166
Week 5 – Entrepreneurial Marketing. Reading: Text Ch.. 5, 167-198
Weeks 6 and 7 – Building the Founding Team, the Business Planning Process. Reading: Text Ch.
6 and 7, pp.199-305 Grove (on reserve)
Week 8 – Building Your Pro Forma Financial Statement OR Financing Entrepreneurial
Ventures Worldwide. Reading: Text Ch. 8 OR 9, as appropriate
Weeks 9-11 – Raising Money. Text Ch. 10 and 11 pp.337-460
Week 12 – Legal and Tax Issues. Reading: Text Ch. 12 pp.461-498
Week 13 – Intellectual Property. Reading: Text Ch. 13, pp.499-530
Week 14 – Growth, Exit Strategies, Perspective. Reading: Text, Ch. 14, pp.531-562
Burlingham (on reserve)
Week 15 – Catch-up, review, Final project
3
Appendix A: Exam Format, Procedures and Material Covered
Four (4) relatively short exams, given upon one week’s notice. Exam format will vary depending
upon overall performance and may change from exam to exam.
Student Conduct and General Standards
Students at the University of Bridgeport are expected to respect the rights of others, exercise
responsible judgment and follow high standards of personal conduct. Students are expected to
involve themselves in activities that promote the welfare of the University and to behave with
courtesy and restraint toward fellow students and University staff. The University fosters a
multicultural, international environment and does not condone or tolerate discrimination on the
basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, creed,
political affiliation, or handicap. The University strives to create an atmosphere of mutual trust
between individuals, promoting self-discipline, and community standards. At the same time, the
University maintains concern about the behavior of its students both on and off campus. In the
maintenance of its academic, social and health standards, the University reserves the right to be
the sole determiner as to whether a student should be removed from residence life, receive fines
or sanctions, be suspended or expelled, granted a leave of absence or dismissed. A student
suspended, expelled from the University is responsible for the full payment of his/her financial
charges for the semester. Students are expected to conform to all governing regulations of the
University as outlined in the Key to UB (Student Handbook), the Catalog and all official
notifications of policy. A student will be subject to University disciplinary procedures if his/her
on or off-campus behavior results in violations of these regulations, civil and/or criminal law.
Disciplinary action, notification of charges, disciplinary procedures, appeals and a review
of actions that may lead to disciplinary procedures are identified and described in the Key to UB
(Student Handbook). It is the responsibility of the student to familiarize him/herself with all
University and Residence Hall codes, regulations and policies, all available on-line.
Grades and Quality Points
A semester hour is the unit by which credits are measured. A quality point is the numerical value
assigned to letter grades A-F. Each grade is assigned quality points as shown below. The faculty
uses the following criteria as bases for determining letter grades: “A” excellent; “B” above
average; “C” average; “D” minimal pass; “F” failure; “I” or “R” incomplete; and “W”
withdrawal. Letter grades may be assigned with “+” and “-” signs. Other grades include pass-fail
(earned under the University Pass/Fail Program): “S” - satisfactory completion of course
requirements; and “U” - has not completed course requirements.
4
Quality Points
Grade per Semester Hour
A 4.00
A– 3.67
B+ 3.33
B 3.00
B– 2.67
C+ 2.33
Quality Points
Grade per Semester Hour
C 2.00
C– 1.67
D+ 1.33
D 1.00
D– 0.67
Evaluation and Grading of Course Work
“A” indicates distinction; for work of exceptional quality. “B” indicates above-average
achievement; quality expected of a graduate student. “C” indicates minimal achievement; not up
to standards of graduate work. “D” indicates below average achievement; no graduate credit
possible. “I” and “R” indicate incomplete graduate course work. (a) An “I” (incomplete) grade
designates incomplete work in a course at the time of grading for reasons beyond the control
of the student and determined to be legitimate by the instructor. These would include absence
from a final examination or inability to complete terminal assignments due to illness,
employment conflicts, etc. In such cases where the “I” grade is awarded the incomplete will
revert to a failing grade if the unfinished work is not satisfactorily completed by the end of the
semester immediately following the one in which the incomplete was granted, exclusive of the
summer sessions. This time can be extended by the instructor for legitimate reasons. (b) A grade
of “R” indicates incomplete work in thesis, research, or undergraduate or graduate student
project courses. The “R” grade must be removed within a period of time specified by the
instructor/
mentor/project advisor or director. It must be within the maximum time allowable for degree
completion in the academic program where the degree is being sought. “W” indicates approved
student withdrawal. In addition to the above, the grades of “A-”, “B+’, “B-’, “C+’, “C-” and D+”
may be assigned for graduate courses.
Disability Services
The University of Bridgeport is committed to providing services to qualified students with
disabilities so that they receive an equal educational opportunity. In compliance with Section 504
of the Rehabilitation Act, the American with Disabilities Act and the Connecticut State Laws, we
provide reasonable accommodations to reduce the impact of disabilities on academic functioning
or upon other life activities in a University setting. All accommodations are determined on an
individual basis. If a student with a disability would like to be considered for accommodations,
he/she must initiate the request, prior to or at the beginning of the academic semester and
provide supporting documentation. For further information call 203 576-4454 or email
counselingservices@bridgeport.edu.
5